[Little Ray]

I don't see any difference between illegally purchasing drugs to quell an addiction to pain killers or to quell an addiction to "recreational" drugs. For example, Demerol is just a synthetic heroin whether it is used for pain or recreation. Either way, you are supporting a criminal sub-culture.
Rush really should have found someone to write him a prescription...

At some point I acquired a understanding, probably erroneous, that there mandatory Federal sentences for some drug offences that put otherwise inoffensive druggies in prison, using space that could have otherwise been filled with violent offenders. I guess I was wrong.

[goodnesswins]

If your point is that there are certain druggies in prison who should not be....I agree. By the way, Rush did find someone to "write him a prescription".....but, as with pain management, it wasn't ENOUGH to take care of the pain, or so we're told....time will tell, but I will not try to second guess Rush's problems right now, unlike some others here.